With the offseason workouts at their end, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to be in better shape than last year — but it’s still really too early to tell.

Last year, the Bucs had drama during OTAs and training camp. From fights during OTAs to legal problems to league problems, the Bucs were not cohesive heading into the season — and this was before the team fired its offensive coordinator 10 days before the season started.

This offseason has been relatively smooth. Sure, there’s the issue of starting left tackle Donald Penn and his contract, which is a HUGE issue. But other than that, the team appears to be on the same page.

We’ll see if that continues.

Best In Show

There were a lot of standout performances during OTAs and mini-camp. Quarterback Josh Freeman knows it’s his team and it shows. How that relates to reading defenses, only time will tell.

Cornerback Aqib Talib has been the best defender in camp. He is just flying all around the ball. Entering his third season, if he keeps himself under control, Talib could start getting All-Pro mentions.

Wide receiver Maurice Stovall really shined in mini-camp. He showed ability to get downfield and make grabs. While rookie Mike Williams and second-year player Sammie Stroughter has been consistent, Stovall has impressed. If he stays healthy, this could finally be his breakout season.

Disappointing Things

Other than Penn’s contract, the only disappointing factors have been the hamstring injuries that have limited rookies Brian Price and Myron Lewis. Price, a second-round pick, is expected to contribute on the defensive line immediately. Same with third-round pick Lewis. The Bucs want the third-round pick to compete for the nickle or even third cornerback position.

The linemen and running backs haven’t been mentioned much because the Bucs didn’t have on pads so it’s hard to judge them. We’ll know more in training camp.